Polarized relay



D. J. M CARTHY POLARIZED RELAY Filed May 29, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 I llll lll.

July 7, 1925.

1.544.919 D. J. M CARTHY POLARIZED RELAY Filed May 29, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jr 6 Jr July i, 1925. 1,544,919

D. .J. MCCARTHY POLARI ZED RELAY Filed May 29, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 7, 1925.

D. J. M CARTHY POLARI ZED RELAY Filed May 29, 1920 4 $heets-$heet 4 w w w Q w W a w w a a m 7109 r: jan 'el Wdzrfy a,

Patented July 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES r i 1,544,919 PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL J. McCARTI-IY, OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T CHICAGO RAILWAY SIG- NAL AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

POLARIZED RELAY.

Application filed May 29, 1920. Serial No. 385,178.

To all 'zclmm, it may concern.

Be it known that I, llxxncr. J. MCCARTHY, a citizen of the United States, residing at l llgin. in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Tn'iprovements in Polarized Relays, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in polarized relays and has especial reference to devices of this character adapted for use in connection with railway signal systems.

One of th objects is to generally improve polarized relays, to increase their integrity and reliability; to make them more eflieient and durable.

more specific object is to provide a new and improved means for pivoting the polarized armature to the magnetic system and improved means for operating brush arms thereby.

Another object is to automatically increase the effective length of an armature. from its pivotal point. proportional to its approach, to a magnetic pole by which it is being attracted, so that the application of magnetic power or portative capacity, at the end of the stroke, is effective on the armature at. a point farthest removed from its pivot.

Another object is to provide an improved mechanical movement by which rotary motion of an armature. through a short arc. about a given axis, is transmitted to circuit closing brush arms that are moved thereby through a longer are about an axis substantially at right angles to the armature axis.

nother object is to provide a new. coinposite mounting plate for the relay parts, in which the heavy electrical and magnetic members are supported on a metallic portion of the composite plate, and the lighter electric terminals are mounted on another part of the composite plate. the latter being made wholly of electrical insulating material. such for example, as porcelain, or the like.

Another object is to provide an insulating, terraced mounting plate. for electric terminals. in which the terminals having greatest l'litl'erences of potential are mounted on terraces differing in altitude.

Another object is to provide a new and improved means for supporting an insulating terraced terminal mounting plate on the metal plate overlying a hermetically sealed casing enclosing the contacting members.

Other, further and more specific objects of the invention will become readily apparent, to persons skilled in the art, from a consideration of the following description, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragment of the structure looking at the bottom of the magnetic system with the lower casin removed.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 77 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the parts of the electric and magnetic circuits.

ln all the views the same reference characters are employed to indicate similar parts.

In the embodiment which has been chosen for presenting a clear disclosure of the invention, 10 is a substantially l'iermetically sealed casing. having glass panels 11 sealed therein as at 12. The object of enclosing the operative mechanism in the hermetically sealed casing is to protect it against atmospheric disturbances and other deleterious effects produced by the atmospheric conditions of different climates.

A metal plate 13 overlies the upper end of the casing 10. and is seated on a gasket. 14 which may be of suitable yieldable shellacked material. On the plate 13 all of the heavier electro-magnetically operable apparatus of the structure is directly supported. The plate 13 contains an open panel 13 closed by a terraced insulating or porcelain block 16. gasket, l7, similar to the gasket 14. is placed between the plate 13 and the block 16. The block 16 and plate 13 are held in place on the casing by the screws 18. One of the corner screws 18 of the block and one of the plate is surrounded by an annular rib 19. as more clearly shown in Fig. 4. and when the parts have been placed in their proper positions. the interior of the rib 19 is filled with a sealing material so as to render the screws 19. the heads of which are submerged in said material, inaccessible. to prevent unauthorized persons from taking the structure apart.

The block 16 is provided with three ledges or terraces, 20, 21 and 22. A series of binding posts 23, of substantially the same potential, are mounted on the terrace Qt) and a series 2 t is mounted on the terrace 21. hile in the particular exemplitication only one binding post. 25, is mounted upon the terrace 22, the binding posts, in each instance, on their respective terraces, are preferably of the same potential, differing in potential from those on the terra adjacent.

By arranging the binding posts in this manner any dirt or metal parts that may fall between the posts will not have the same tendency to short circuit them.

Connection is made through the body part of the porceleain block 16 by means of screws 27, the lower terminals of which are connected to parts 28, 29 and 30, within the casing.

Fig. 8 shows the magnetic circuit of the polarized relay, in a diagrammatic fashion, wherein 31, 31 are the cores of the electromagnet and 32 is the permanent or constantly polarized magnet. The upper ends of these members are connected to the tri-angular shaped yoke 33. \Vhen current is passed through the windings, 3%, ill of the electromagnet, the magnetic lines of force will flow through the cores 31. 31 and through the triangular yoke 33, which draws the neutral armature 35 to the poles i and S, which are the terminals of the cores 31? 1, respectively. The polarity of these pole faces depends on the direction in which the current is flowing through the windings 3t--- t'.

36 is an oscillatable pern'ianently polarized armature, pivoted on the end of the permanent magnet 32. As) the magnetic flux through this armature. and through the permanent magnet is constant in direc tion, the polarity of the armature 36 will also be constant and for this reason the armature will be attracted to the pole face S and repelled from the pole face N, as will be clearly understood by persons skilled in the art. Now, when the direction of current is reversed in the windings ill-34, the magnetic polarity of the faces N and S will become S and N, respectively, whereupon the polar armature 36 will swing upon its pivot toward the other pole face.

The neutral armature is preferably of soft iron, and is responsive to the magnetic condition of the pole faces N and S irrespective of the direction of the current through the windings Sat-23. So long as the pole faces N and S are energized by the current through the windings 3434, the armature will be attracted and will remain in attracted position until the current is witlr drawn from the windings, whereupon the armature 35 will, by the effect of gravity, fall away from its position in front of the pole faces.

The armature 36 is provided with two arms which are indicated by the reference characters 36* and 36, both of these arms are always of the polarity coi'res pomling with the polarity of the end of the magnet on which they are mounted.

()ne of the features of importance of this invention is the manner in which the oscillating armature 36 is mounted upon the end of the permanent magnet 32.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 5. it will be observed that the permanent magnet 32 is made fast in a socket 37 which forms a part of the plate 13. The magnet may be forced into the socket and subsequently upon the ends of the magnet is placed an iron or steel ring 38, secured thereto by friction contact or other means. Instead of a separate ring the magnet may be enlarged at its polar end and 38 may be an integral part of the magnet.

The increased diameter of the ring 38, presents considerable more magnetic surface than the normal end, or pole of the magnet 32. The oscillating armature, 36, has a cupshaped part 39, that fits neatly around the ring 38. There is a considerably enlarged surface than presented between the inner diameter of the armature ring 39 and the outer surface of the polar ring 38 thru which magnetic lines of force will flow with less re luctance interposed because of the increased surfaces. By thus increasing the magnetic area, the distance of separation between the parts may be made greater, without materially increasing the reluctance between these two parts. For mechanical reasons, the air gap, or the distance between the two parts, must be an appreciable amount. but small enough so that suflicient magnetic lines of force will pass thru these parts without having interposed thereby an undue amount of reluctance or magnetic resistance. It this distance is too small, the oxydization or corrosion of the confronting parts will frequently bridge the space and interpose mechanical resistance to the movement of the armature 36. Therefore, it will appear that the reluctance of the air gap is reduced to a minimum by the increase in area of thc confronting surfaces within the magnetic circuit. To support the armature lit: in place, I pass studs or pins to thru the ring 38 and these studs pass thru slots t1 and :3 in the cup-shapcd part ii) of the armature 36.

A yoke i3 is secured to the ends of the studs -10 and serves as a support for the armature 36. Projecting upwardly from the ring 36, of the armature, is a bairing' pin l5. This pin serves as a means for cen tering the armature with reference to the ring 39, and it projects dmvnwartlly into an opening in the adjustable screw to. and rests upon a hardened ball 47', which rel-res as a step-bearing for the armature 3-6. The

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screw 46 is adjustable vertically to place the armature in proper position with reference to the ring 38 of the permanent magnet and is held in adjusted position by the nut 47.

By this means the air gap between the polar end 3% of the magnet 32 and the surrounding cup-shaped part 39 ot' the armature 3G is rigidly and accurately maintained.

The arn'iature 3G is made eflicient by the fact that, when one arm N is in contact with the respective pole tace. it stands at an angle in relation to the face. as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The object of this is to drive the larger number of lines of force, of the magnet through the outer end of the armature arms where it will exert a greater litting ettect than it would it the magnetic llux is thru the armature at a shorter radius. or at a point closer to the pivoted axis of the armature.

The terminals. 23. mounted on the terraced insulating block 16. are located in a. lower plane than are the terminals 24. The terminals 23 are connected to the stationary contacts 30. while the terminals 24. of ditterent polarities. are connected to the par s and the flexible cables :28 within the casing. All of the terminals are on the trout ot the instrument readily accessible and convenient for inspection to reduce the danger of any accumulation of foreign short circniting matter.

'ousidcrable benefit is derived from mounting the heavier magnetic circuit and the parts that are subject to movement. upon the iron plate 13. and the use of the block or plate 16 of porcelain mounted on the same plate. It frequently occurs that when the insulating material is used to suppwrt all ot' the weight of heavier parts of the instrument it becomes c'aclqed by the weight of magnet parts. the coils and the armatnres connected therewith and. theretore. it is ditficult to keep in alignment the various parts 01 the relay owing to the difl'erences in contraction and expansion between the metallic and insulated parts and. tor this reason. in the present instance. all the movable parts are mounted direct upon the metal plate while the inert. lighter. elec trical contact parts are mounted upon the blo k ot' insulating material which is not ett'e tc-d b v any expansion and cont action of the plate.

Nonanagnetu: pins fa e of the pole pieces N and S so that the arm or prongs 536* and 36. of the armalure 36. may not make actual contact with the respective pole pieces.

It is important to pivot the armature 35 in a horizontal plane so that when it is in its retracted position. its surt'ace presented to the poles N and S of the electro-magnet is substantially parallel with the confronting surface of the pole. This is done so are placed in the that the closest ap 'iroximation of the ar mature and the pole is effected at the point of longest radius from the pivotal point ol the armature. as clearly shown in Fig. 7. This result produces a greater holding ettect ot the armature, because of the tact of the application of power at a longer leverage than would be the case it the contact was made closer to the pivotal point of the armature.

The armature 35 is pivotally supported upon posts 51 and The armature is directly supported on separable pivot blocks 53 that are, placed in grooves provided in the end faces of the posts 51 and respectively. In assembling this structure. the blocks 53 are filed away until the precise pivotal point has been secured. Then the blocks 53 are firmly driven into the openings provided in the ends of the posts 51 and 52. respectively. and may be secured by screws. or otherwise. so that they become permanently associated therewith and cannot. under any circumstances, become loo ened or changed in adjustment. there being no adjusting screws to become loosened.

Secured to the armature ring 36 is a yoke .35 which has arms 56 and 57. more clearly shown in Fig. 4. Each of these arms is downturned. as at 58. and slotted at its lower end. The yoke l2} is provided with arms 59. each arm having tixed therein a transverse hinge pin 60. ()n the pin (it) is a swiveling: button til. treely movable thereon. "be up per end of each ot these buttons has a slot 62 carrying a pin ti? which is retained within the slot on the downturned portion 58 ot' the arms 56 and 57. Now. from this descrip tion. it will be clear that when the armature 36 is oscillated. that one of the buttons (31 will be moved in one direction on its pivot. (it) by the mechanism just described. while the other button will be moved in the opposite direction. Fixed to the buttons (31 are brush or contact arms 62 and 63 respectively. that extend torwardly ot the casing and which are held on the buttons by studs and nuts (34. Now. it will be understood that when the armature 36 is oscillated. that these arms (:2 and 6?) will be alternately raised and low ered by operation of the mechanism just described.

Connected to the neutral armature 35 are two other brush carrying arms ('35 and 6 These arms are secured by means of the nut and bolt tastenings GT and are separated from the armature 3-3 by insulating sleeves 68. The main part of the arm is a twopart construction. consisting of the members 69 and 70. These mei'nbers. at their outer ends. are bent in opposite directions to TOl'Hl a truss. and for the purpose of neutralizing each other in their tendency to straighten under their bending stress. Connected between the members 69 and 70 is a spring IUU arm 71 carrying on its free end a contact 72. The member 69 is prolonged from its contact point with the member 70, as at 73, into an arm it which serves to limit the movement of the resilient arm 75. The arm 71 makes contact with the carbon block 76 fixed to the member 30 and the arm 75 makes contact with the member 77 which is rela tivcly fixed. The spring blade 28 is connected to the member ($5 by the flexible cable 2%. The tendency for the member to straighten would raise the spring arm 71, while the tendency for the member 69 to straighten, would have the effect of moving the spring arm 71 in the opposite direction. The same may be said with reference to the spring arm and. therefore, the connection together with the members 69 and 70 neutralizes the etiect and produces a truss member that possesses maximum strength with the smallest weight.

A polarized relay of the character described may be variously employed. It is especially applicable in systems. such as signalling systems, wherein the relay should control certain circuits irrespective of the polarity of the operating current in its winding and other circuits selectively, dependupon the polarity of the operating current. Thus. when (merating current of one polarity flows through winding ill--34. neutral armature 3:) is attracted and moved toward poles N-S. the outer ends of switch arms (if) and 66 are raised and the circuits controlled thereby through blades 71 and blocks 76 are closed. and those through blades 75 and blocks 77 are opened. At the same time polarized armature 3G is rotated in a horizontal plane to the right or to the le ft (Fig. ti) depending upon the polarity of the current. The movement of polarized armature 36 moves arms 56 and 57 and thereby rotates buttons (31 in opposite directions about their pivots (it). The movement of buttons 61 raise and lower the outer ends of the respective blades 62 and 63 carried thereby. which blades control circuits through cooperating tixed contacts. If the polarity of the operating current is reversed the neutral armature is attracted as previously described. However. the polarized armature and the movable contacts controlled thereby are moved in the reverse direction.

'hilc l have herein shown a single embodiment of my invention. for the purpose of clear disclosure. it will be manifest. to persons skilled in the art. that considerable changes may be made in the general arrangement and configuration of the parts within the scope, of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A relay having a casing; a metallic cover overlying a portion thereof; electromagnetic parts mounted on said cover; a block of insulating material, separable from the cover, overlying another portion thereof: a series of wire-clamping terminals carried by said block and separate means for securing the cover; and the block to the casing.

2. A relay having a casing: a metallic cover overlying a portion thereof; electromagnetic parts mounted on said cover: a block of insulating material. separable from the cover overlying another part thereof: a series of wire-clamping terminals carried by said block; tixed contacts within the casing and carried by said block, and movable contact arms for cooperation therewith arried by the metal cover; and means to seal the casing between both covers.

3. A relay having a casing; a metallic cover overlaying a portion thereof; electro magnetic parts mounted on said cover; av block of insulating material, separable from the cover and having a series of terraced elevations, overlying another portion of the casing: a series of wire-clamping terminals mounted on one terrace and a series of like terminals, having differences of electrical potential therefrom, mounted on another terrace; and separate means to secure the cover and the block to the casing.

4. A magnet having its end enlarged into a disk-like pole; an annular armature having a part surrounding the pole and spacedaway therefrom; a bearing for the armature to maintain the spaced relation; electroresponsive means for oscillating the armature; a contact-carrying arm, pivoted near the armature; and a connection between said armature and arm for moving the, latter.

5. A polarized relay having in combination an electro-magnet providing two spaced-away poles: a permanent magnet having a cooperating pole; a ring secured to the pole of the permanent magnet to increase its efiective area; an annular, oscillatable armature surrounding and spacedaway from said ring, said armature having a projecting arm movably responsive to change of magnetic polarity of said electromagnet poles; and an axial bearing for said armature to rigidly maintain the spaced relation.

6. A polarized relay having in combination an electro-magnet providing two spaced-apart poles: a permanent magnet having a cooperating pole: a ring secured to the pole of the permanent magnet to increase its effective area: an annular, oscillatable armature surrounding and spacedaway from said ring, said armature having a projecting arm movably responsive to change of magnetic polarity of said electromagnet poles; a center bearing for said armature to rigidly maintain the spaced relation; a contact-carrying pivoted arm; and a link connected between said armature and said arm to move the latter when the former is moved.

7. A polarized relay having in combination an electro-magnet provided with two spaced-apart poles; a permanent magnet having a cooperating pole; a ring secured to the pole of the permanent magnet to increase its efl'ective area; an annular, oscillatable armature surrounding and spaced away from said ring, said armature having a projecting arm movably responsive to change of polarity of said electro-magnetic poles; a center bearing for said armature to rigidly maintain the spaced relation; a contact-carrying arm on an axis substantially at right angles to the axis of the armature; and a connection between the said armature and said arm to move the latter on its axis when the former is moved on its axis.

8. A polarized relay having in combination an electro-magnet provided with two salient poles and a permanent magnet having one salient pole, said magnets connected to the same yoke; a ring secured to the salient pole of the permanent magnet to increase its efl'ective area; an annular oscillatable armature surrounding and spaced away from said ring and having a projecting arm located between the poles of the electro-magnet; a center bearing for said armature; and a support for said armature secured to said ring.

9. A polarized relay having in combination an electro-magnet providing two salient poles and a permanent magnet having one salient pole, said magnets connected to the same yoke; a ring secured to the salient pole of the permanent magnet to increase its effective area; an annular, oscillatable armature surrounding and spaced-away from said ring, and having a projecting arm located between the poles of the electromagnet movably responsive to change of magnetic polarity of said electro-n'iagnetic poles; a center bearing for said armature consisting of a pin in the axial plane of the magnet and armature and within the magnet and armature; a steel ball at one end of the pin serving as a step bearing; and an oscillatable contact arm oscillated by move ment of said armature.

10. A relay having a pair of electromagnet poles, a permanent magnet pole, and an armature journaled for movement about the axis of the permanent magnet pole and fitting over the end of the permanent magnet pole.

11. A relay having a pair of electromagnet poles, a permanent magnet pole, an armature journaled for movement about the axis of the permanent magnet pole, a contact support movable in a plane at an angle to the plane of movement of the armature, and mechanism interconnecting the armature and support and converting the move ment of the armature in its plane to move ment of the support in its plane.

12. A relay having a pair of electromagnet poles, a permanent magnet pole, an armature mounted for oscillation about the axis of the permanent: magnet pole, a con tact support pivoted tor movement in a. plane at an angle to the axis of the permanent magnet pole, and mechanism for converting movement of the armature into movement for the support.

In testimony whereof hereunto subscribed my name.

DANIEL J. MoCARlllY. 

